Source: Northern_Echo
Quakers' chairman calls on council to help keep club alive
WITH supporters underlining their commitment to the cause, Darlington chairman Raj Singh is now calling on councillors to do all they can to keep the town's football club alive.[LNB] Mr Singh has held two meetings with council officials to clarify the planning and development restrictions relating to The Northern Echo Arena and its surrounding land.[LNB] "We need to know whether the council wants a professional football club in Darlington, and how far they are prepared to go to help us make that happen."[LNB]Darlington FC chairman Raj Singh Having threatened to walk away if 2,000 supporters did not sign up for season tickets before the end of the month, the Quakers chairman has been delighted with the fans' response, especially in the run to the Wembley final of the FA Trophy.[LNB] However, with a dispute over the ownership of The Northern Echo Arena and its environs continuing to rumble on, Mr Singh is urging council leaders to show their support for the football club.[LNB] The Teesside-based businessman is keen to investigate the development possibilities of the Neasham Road site, with a 2007 proposal having aired the possibility of a complex including three football pitches, ten six a-side pitches, a football academy, a hotel and leisure club, a nursery, offices, a pub and a cafe.[LNB] He said: "We need to know whether the council wants a professional football club in Darlington, and how far they are prepared to go to help us make that happen.[LNB] "We've spoken about the covenants on the ground and the planning, and we've made it quite clear that they need to show us their hand. That will help us going forward.[LNB] "We've spoken to the council about various planning issues and talked about how we can develop the site.[LNB] "The public have shown their support in the last few matches - now it is time for the council to do the same. For me, they will be the biggest players in terms of where this football club goes over the next few years.[LNB] "If they can give us some answers that we want to hear, then we can go back to the people involved with the holding company and sort that issue out."[LNB] On Saturday, more than 2,500 Darlington fans travelled to Gateshead for the second leg of the FA Trophy semi-final, and Mr Singh claims such support has strengthened his commitment to the club.[LNB] He said: "The response from the supporters has been really good. I think the turn out for the two FA Trophy games tells you that if we deliver on the pitch, the fans will turn out to back us."[LNB] A Council spokesperson said: "We can confirm we continue to meet with Raj Singh to discuss the current position of the club."[LNB]
